This Tennessee Craft Store Started With Rubber Stamps And Grew Into A Creative Playground

A few rubber stamps can turn into a serious hobby surprisingly fast. Add paper, ink, paint, journals, and a wall of creative supplies, and suddenly you have an afternoon problem.

This Tennessee craft store started with rubber stamps and kept growing into something much bigger.

Today, shoppers can browse art materials, paper crafting supplies, handmade pieces, and plenty of tools for projects that start simple and somehow take over the kitchen table.

That mix makes the store fun even if you walk in without a plan. You might arrive looking for one stamp and leave thinking about a new journal, a mixed media project, or a class you did not know you wanted to try.

Tennessee crafters looking for inspiration will find more than shelves of supplies here. The fun is seeing how quickly one small idea can turn into the next project.

A Basement Classroom Where It All Began

Retirement plans usually involve naps, not new businesses. Brenda Preuss had other ideas.

After leaving the computer field, she moved to Tennessee with her husband, Paul, and brought a serious rubber stamping habit with her.

That skill grew during her years in the Chicago area. She had learned the tricks, the tools, and the little secrets that make a stamped card look sharp. Keeping all that knowledge to herself just did not feel right.

So in 2003, she opened a small shop called Stamping on the Plateau. It did not sit on a busy street. It lived in a craft room and classroom in the lower level of her home.

Picture shelves of stamps and a table ready for students. People came to learn, to shop, and to swap ideas. It was humble, but it worked, and it planted the seed for everything that came later.

Here is a useful lesson tucked inside the story. A passion can become a business if you start small and stay curious. Brenda did not wait for a perfect storefront or a big budget.

She began with what she had: know-how, supplies, and a spare room. That simple start would one day grow into FACS: For Art, Crafts & Sports, a downtown favorite for makers across the region.

Spotting A Gap Nobody Else Filled

Imagine needing one ink color and driving 45 minutes to get it. That was real life for many crafters near Crossville. Brenda noticed the problem quickly.

Shops that carried a wide range of craft products were hard to find in the area. Even harder was finding someone who could explain how those products actually worked. Crafters were often left guessing, or burning gas money on long trips.

Brenda saw this as an opening. Her home shop was charming, but it was too small to meet the need.

She wanted more space to teach classes and sell her growing collection of stamps and supplies.

Good businesses often start this way. Someone sees a missing piece and decides to become that piece. Brenda had the products and the knowledge, so a bigger room was the next logical step.

Practical tip for fellow makers: pay attention to what frustrates your community. If everyone complains about the same thing, there may be a solution waiting for you. Brenda listened, and her plans shifted.

Her search for a bigger home eventually led her to the Crossville Outlet Mall. That move would introduce her to a new partner and a whole new direction.

The little stamp shop was about to get a lot more interesting.

An Unlikely Team Of Frames And Baseball Gloves

Rubber stamps and baseball gloves do not sound like natural roommates. Yet that pairing is exactly what happened next. At the Crossville Outlet Mall, Brenda met Bob Wyrick.

Bob owned a business called Picture Perfect/This Old Glove. It focused on custom framing and sports memorabilia.

His customers wanted to protect and display treasures, from art prints to signed collectibles. The two saw a chance to blend their worlds. On January 1, 2017, they officially became partners.

Their new store was named Framing + Art and Craft Supplies, shortened to FACS.

The goal was simple and smart. Serve the creative community of Crossville with fine art supplies, while keeping the services Bob already offered. Artists could buy paint and then frame the finished piece in one stop.

Fun fact: the catchy name FACS started as an abbreviation for that original long title. Later, the letters would stick around even when the meaning changed. Clever branding has a way of outliving its first purpose.

This chapter shows the power of teamwork. Two very different shop owners found common ground in helping people make and keep special things.

That mix of art and sports still shapes the store today, giving it a personality few craft shops can match.

A New Name For A New Season

Names can change, but good letters are worth keeping. In November 2019, Bob Wyrick retired. Brenda decided to keep the shop going strong.

Her son-in-law, Bill Beckett, stepped in as a new partner. He bought the sports collectibles part of the business. Bob kept some of his Yankees memorabilia, which seems fair for any true fan.

With Bob gone, framing services ended. That meant the old name no longer fit.

So the store became FACS: For Art, Crafts & Sports, and the familiar four letters stayed right where they belonged. The new name tells you exactly what waits inside. Art supplies for painters.

Craft goods for stampers and paper lovers. Sports items for collectors who like a little team spirit with their glitter.

Today the shop sits in downtown Crossville at 65 W 5th St, Crossville, TN 38555. You will find it on the corner of West 5th Street and West Avenue. The brick wall outside gives little hint of the color packed inside.

Planning a stop? Hours run Monday through Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, and the doors stay closed on Sundays.

Shelves That Make Stampers Grin

Ink pads lined up like a rainbow can make any stamper weak in the knees. The supply side of FACS still honors its rubber stamp roots.

It is also much bigger than that first basement room.

The categories cover a lot of ground. There are adhesives, cardstock and paper, dies, embossing folders, inks, paints, and powders.

You will also see stamp sets, stencils, and a range of handy tools.

Card makers and mini album fans will feel right at home. Junk journalers can hunt for inks and papers to fill fresh pages. Fine artists can browse professional supplies that usually require a long drive to find.

Quality matters here. The store aims to carry professional grade art and craft supplies at fair prices. That balance helps beginners and experienced makers alike.

Brenda keeps the shelves fresh by researching new products. She also listens when shoppers ask for something specific. If a color or tool is missing, asking about it may get it into a future order.

Smart shopping tip: bring a list and a sample if you are matching colors. Ink shades can look different on screens than in real life.

Testing a product in person, when possible, helps you leave with exactly what your project needs.

Seventy Local Artists Under One Roof

More than 70 local artists means more than 70 different imaginations. That is the magic behind the handmade side of FACS. Every corner seems to hold something one of a kind.

The variety is wide and wonderful. Look for stained glass, woodworking, candles, jewelry, and cards. Dolls, metalwork, fabric pieces, and sewn items also share the space.

Think of it as a craft fair that never packs up. The store works like an indoor market all year long. Rain, wind, or chilly plateau mornings never cancel the fun.

For the artists, this setup is a real gift. They get a steady place to sell instead of relying only on weekend shows. For shoppers, it means handmade gifts are available any day the doors are open.

Need a birthday present with personality? This is a great place to look.

A hand poured candle or a carved wooden piece feels far more personal than something from a big box store.

Here is a thoughtful habit to try. Ask about the maker behind a piece you love.

Learning a little about who made it adds a story to your gift, and it supports the creative talent growing across Tennessee.

Classes That Turn Curiosity Into Skill

Buying a fancy tool is easy. Knowing how to use it is the tricky part. That is where the classes at FACS come in.

The store hosts classes and demonstrations that show how products really work. This idea goes all the way back to Brenda’s first classroom at home. Teaching has always been part of the plan.

Many instructors are the same local artists who sell their work in the shop. That means you learn from people who use these techniques every week.

Their tips come from real practice, not just a product label.

Classes can be a great confidence booster. A new embossing folder or stencil can feel scary at first. After a hands on session, it may become your favorite trick.

They are also a fun way to meet fellow makers. Crafting alone is relaxing, but crafting with others sparks fresh ideas.

You might leave with a finished project and a new friend.

Want to join one? Check the store website at facstn.com or call ahead for current offerings.

Class topics can change, so asking early helps you grab a spot. Bring your questions, because the best learning often happens in the chatty moments between steps.

Craft Fairs And Block Parties On Fifth Street

Some shops stay inside their four walls. This one spills right out onto the sidewalk. FACS hosts a Downtown Craft Fair around the store on many weekends.

Mark your calendar for the fourth Saturday of most months. December shifts things to the third Saturday, which leaves room for holiday plans. Vendors set up nearby and the whole corner fills with color.

Sometimes the fun grows even bigger. These events can turn into Block Parties, with Fifth Street closed to traffic.

The road becomes a stretch of booths, browsing, and friendly chatter.

It is a wonderful way to see the creative spirit of downtown Crossville up close. You can shop inside the store and then wander outside for more handmade finds. Both sides feed each other nicely.

Planning tip: arrive early for the best selection. Popular handmade items can sell quickly. Bring a sturdy tote bag so your treasures ride home safely.

From a basement stamp shop to a street full of makers, the journey is pretty amazing. FACS: For Art, Crafts & Sports proves that creativity grows when people share it.

Tennessee has many charming stops, but few blend art, crafts, and community spirit quite like this one.